Page 37 of Beast

“Made sense, Dad.Really.What doesn’t make sense is why Drake is so intent on having me killed.I just can’t figure it out.”

“Well, he picked a fight with the wrong guy.”His words hardened to a steely edge.“He wasn’t on our radar before, but he is now.Every club he owns.Every casino.Every bar.Every betting syndicate.I will take them apart one by one, and I’ll make sure he knows why.”He looked over my head.“That would be if your man there doesn’t take him apart piece by piece.He’s not known for his pacifist nature when it comes to things he cares about.”

I turned my head and saw Beast stalking toward us.“He’s not my man.”It was an automatic denial, but even as the words left my mouth, I realized it was a lie.

My father looked skeptical, but didn’t say anything, releasing his grip on me as Beast came up to us.

“Ace inside?”

My father nodded.“Just waiting for you three to get back.”

“There’s four of us,” I pointed out.

My father looked at Beast.

“You’re not part of Riptide.When it comes to strategy and attack plans, we’re a team.Have been for years.You’re welcome to come along and listen.This is about you, after all,” Beast explained.“But you’re the target which means we need to keep you safe while we take care of the threat.Plus, I need to focus, and I won’t be able to do that if I’m worried about you.”

That made sense.I didn’t want Beast to get hurt because he was worried about me instead of focusing on what he needed to do.

Between the bikers, the guys from the band, and the operatives from the Bureau, the top floor of the hotel had been taken over.One room was reserved for the war council.A whiteboard and a huge monitor took up one side, and a scary looking bunch of men lounged around the room on chairs and sofas.

Beast fit right in, and I made sure I kept as close to his side as possible.The atmosphere in the room was tense, and these guys did not look friendly.

My father introduced me and explained the situation so far.Maps were drawn on the whiteboard, wiped out and redrawn.Pros and cons were discussed, and a plan was formulated.The men were divided into teams.A group they labeled the cleaners was going to take care of the truck and the dead thug.Another group would help with the retrieval of the bus and comb the area for clues.It seemed like an awfully convenient set up with the hoodlums in the truck knowing exactly where to be when the bus came by.

The largest group was waiting in reserve, ready to spring into action once the prisoner spilled his guts.They discussed sending a delegation to Las Vegas to deal with Drake directly, but since no one was sure of his whereabouts, it was decided to put that part of the plan on hold until they had more information.By now, he’d know his plan had failed and he’d be expecting retaliation.

Beast, Hawke, and Ace were heading back to interrogate the guy they’d captured.I offered to go with them, but Beast quickly squashed that idea.I was to stay put, with Thor and my father along with a couple of the Bureau guys to protect me.Until this was over, I wasn’t allowed to leave the hotel.

I wanted to object, especially when they used the word “allowed.”I didn’t like being told what to do, but it made sense.I was the one with a price on her head.If I ventured out, I’d endanger myself and everyone who came with me.

* * *

Beast

I was not happy leaving Piper behind.She hadn’t been out of my sight since I’d picked her up in San Diego.I didn’t want her anywhere near when we interrogated the prisoner, though.It was one thing to know it was going to be ugly.It would be something else to see or hear what we might have to do.The prisoner was dead no matter what.He’d targeted my woman.His only choice was how hard that death would be.

Ace understood my reluctance to part from Piper, but he’d already given me the pep talk about her being safer where she was.Thor and a gang of Bureau agents, including her father, would provide more than enough protection to keep her safe.

Hell, even Piper understood, although she didn’t look any happier than me.Kind of made me feel better, knowing she didn’t want us to be apart.

The trip back to the clubhouse was somber.We rode straight through at speeds the local cops would not have approved.Lucky for us the Bureau had smoothed the way, and the cars with the radar traps looked the other way as we sped by.

The prospects guarding the gate back at the clubhouse were expecting us and opened up when we approached.We parked in front of the clubhouse, and Jake met us at the door.He handed us each a bottle of beer, and I downed the first half of mine in one long gulp.Ace and Hawke did the same.

“You’ve got him in the pen?”Ace asked.

“Affirmative.”

“Anyone talk to him yet?”

Jake shook his head.“Thought it best to wait for you.”

“Good.”Ace looked over at me.“You want some time, or you ready?”

“Let’s get this over with.”

Ace nodded.“You take the lead.Hawke and I will back you up if you need us.”

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